They Met in the Library by Nell Iris

Author:Nell Iris [Iris, Nell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2021-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

My Saturday starts with a group of elderly ladies invading the library, telling me they just started a reading circle. They’re happy and chatty and ask a million questions; what do I think of this book or that, have I ever been in a reading circle, do I have any suggestions for their first book, do I prefer fantasy over crime, should they read non-fiction books, and so on.

I haven’t seen this much action on a Saturday ever; they’re lovely and fill the library to the brim with their energy. When they leave, they thank me for my “excellent help” and promise to be back in a couple weeks, and I tell them I look forward to it. I mean it wholeheartedly. No one’s happier than I am when the library is bustling with energy and life.

The place is too quiet after they leave, and I wish they’d come back. There must be something we can do to bring more people into our little neighborhood library. Our funding keeps getting cut each year, and the programs that used to be available have been shut down. But there must be things I can do that’ll draw people in, that won’t cost more than my time and creativity.

The people living in the neighborhood are very protective of this little place, and every time the city council starts making noises about shutting us down, they rally and protest until the powers that be let us be for another year. It’s been going on since long before I started working here. Maybe we can turn it into an advantage. Maybe a few local people would be willing to volunteer for stuff like storytime for kids or hosting reading circles.

I take out a notebook and start brainstorming ideas, adding item after item—some doable, some harebrained—and I get more creative as time passes. I hardly notice when my phone vibrates in my pocket, but I pull it out, my focus mostly still on my list.

A glance at the screen reveals that it’s a text from Manne, and suddenly the phone has my complete attention.

Good morning. I don’t know if I can make it to the library today. My sister’s car broke down, so she borrowed my truck to get to work. And I said I’d fix her car if I can. Keep your fingers crossed it’s something easy so I can stop by. I want to see you. I’m sorry.

I sigh. I’ve been looking forward to seeing him since our conversation yesterday, so it’s an unwelcome message. But understandable; he’s the kind of guy to help his sister. That’s one of the reasons I like him. I write back…

It’s all right. Good luck with the car. I’ll try to keep busy without you here distracting me. Text me whenever you can.

I go back to my list and add a couple more ideas. Then I start fleshing out what I’ve just come up with in an email I can send to the boss, and I’m soon lost in work.

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